To the Honourable President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled:

The petition of the undersigned shows:

The concern of members of the Australian recreational and commercial fishing communities regarding the listing of Porbeagle, Shortfin Mako and Longfin Mako as migratory species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Your petitioners ask/request that the Senate direct the Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett to:

1.  postpone any decision to implement any no-take policy shortfin mako, longfin mako and porbeagle sharks beyond this fishing season;

2.  begin a genuine consultation process involving both the recreational and commercial fishing sectors, including game fishing clubs;

3.  publish and explain, as part of the consultative process, the science relating to any shark fishing ban proposals including the status of the species in Australian waters; and

4.  develop, with input and feedback from both the recreational and commercial fishing sectors, credible protocols for the management of the fishery prior to any bans being implemented.